Window grill connectors



April 7, 1970 R. MARTlN 3,504,468

WINDOW GRILL CONNECTORS Filed Feb. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l &

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INVENTOR. ROBERT I. MARTIN ATTORNEY April 7, 1970 R. MARTIN ,5

WINDOW GRILL CONNECTORS Filed Feb. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. ROBERT l. MARTIN 22 BY Kz/J f.

ATTORNEY April 7, 1970 R. MARTlN 3,504/468 WINDOW GRILL CONNECTORS Filed Feb. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. I2 EN RO RT. ARTIN ATTORN EY.

April 7,'1970 R. MAR'I 'IN WINDOW GRILL CONNECTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet L Filed Feb. 12, 1968 INVENTOR. ROBERT I. MARTIN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O U.S. CI. 52-311 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A variety of clips, pins and spring attaching devices which are end connected to removable window grill assemblies and which are adaptable to facilitate ready application and removal of the said window grill assemblies when used in conjunction with windows of various constructions.

This invention relates generally to the building materials field, and more particularly is directed to removable window grill assemblies and connectors therefore.

In View of the rising costs encountered in the building material industry, it has become increasingly important to find substituted materials and methods which may be employed to replace existing conventional materials and methods in order to save money without undue sacrifice in uality or appearance.

Such savings have almost universally been realized in the manufacture of window sash by eliminating the use of individual muntin bars and window dividers. In this manner, the window manufacturer now produces a sash having but one light of glass. Such a construction completely eliminates the expense of manufacturing and installing the individual window bars and as many as six or eight individual panes of glass.

Even though the initial cost savings realized in the new methods of manufacture are indeed significant, the advantages gained are somewhat oset by the fact that all the windows so produced look alike and the individual characteristics that were available with prior art models could no longer be produced. In order to offset this shortcoming, the use of removable type window bar assemblies has become quite popular. Initially, such assemblies were fabricated from wood members. The window bar assemblies as currently manufactured are most frequently extruded from polyvnyl chloride plastic stock.

Various methods of connecting plastic window bar assemblies to wooden sash have been utilized and most perform with varying degrees of success. Problems arise, however, when it becomes necessary to attach the bars to metal sash. In this latter case, it has previously been necessary to provide a completely different connector to attach to sash of each individual manufacturer. Such methods were cumbersome and made it necessary for the supplier to stock unreasonable large inventores in order to supply grilles for each type of metal window.

In order to simplfy the inventory problem, and to further reduce complete window installation costs, 'applicant has devised the present methods of attachment that are almost universal in application and which, in most cases, can be applied with equal ease to all type of me al sash now produced.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved window grill connector of the type set forth.

It is another object of this invention to provide window grill connectors suitable for use with metal window sash.

It is another object of this invention to provide window grill connectors adaptable for use with metal window sash of various manufacture.

It is another object of this invention to provide window 3,50`4,468 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 grill connectors which may be employed with both hard vinyl and soft vinyl sash retaining strps.

It is another object of this invention to provide window grill connectors of extremely simple construction and attachment.

It is another object of this invention to provide window grill connectors that are inexpensive in manufacture, rugged in construction and trouble-free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had be referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in' conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a metal sash with a window bar assembly in place therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional View taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective View showing a grill bar with a milled connecting end.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the milled end of FIG. 3 applied to a soft vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective View showing a grill bar with an end attached, L-shaped, connecting clip.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the clip of FIG. S applied to a soft vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the clip of FIG. 5 applied to a hard vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a grill bar with an end attached spring clip.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view showing the clip of FIG. 8 applied to a sash utilizing a soft vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective View of a grill bar with an end attached, modified spring clip.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view showing the clip of FIG. 10 applied to a sash utilizing a soft vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 12 is an exploded partial perspective View of a grill bar showing an end attached spring connector.

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view showing the connector of FIG. 12 applied to a soft vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view showing the con-- nector of FIG. 12 applied to a hard vinyl retaining strip.

FIG. 15 is a partial persepective View of a grill bar and a separate end connected, L-shaped clip.

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of the grill bar and spring connector of FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a perspective, exploded View showing a modified Connector.

FIG. 18 is a perspective, exploded view showing a modified Connector as applied to a insulated glass construction.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 a sash generally designated A which may be fabricated from metal such as aluninum or steel. Horizontal frarning members 10, 10' and vertical frarning members 12, 12' respectively join at the sash corners in well-known manner to form a sturdy unitary structure. A single pane of glass 14 ts within the sash A and is retained therein by either a hard vinyl retaining strip 16 or a soft vinyl retaining strip 18, also in well-known manner. A window grill assembly 20 comprising a plurality of intersecting vertical members 22 and horizontal members 24 affixes to either the hard vinyl 16 or soft vinyl 18 retaining strip in a manner he'einafter set forth in detail to smulate the appearance of a multi-light sash.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a grill framing member 22 may be cut, milled, or otherwise formed at the end 26 thereof to provide an extending connection tongue 28. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the tongue 28 is formed by transversely millng the grill bar end 26 to a depth greater than half its height. Care should be exercised toleave sufficient material to give the tongue suflicient structural strength to adequately support the grill `assembly A when the grill is placed in position against the glass pane 14.

As seen in FIG. 4, in the application shown, the glass pane 14 is retained within the sash frame member 10' by employing a U-shaped, soft vinyl, retaining strip 18. A notch 30, of width to Conveniently receive the grill bar tongue 28 is cut through one leg 32 of the vinyl strip 18. It will be appreciated that when the edge of the glass 14 and the associated retaining strip 18 are urged within the sash Construction 34, a clear space 36 will be. provided between the glass 14 and the sash frame members. The window bar assembly 20 can then `be applied to the frame by fiexing the individual grill bars 22, 24 and by feeding the respective end tongues 28 into the respective spaces 36.

Referring now to FIG. 5, I show a grill bar 22 having an L-shaped clip 38 aixed at the end thereof by a centrally positioned pin 40. The clip 38 is preferably stamped from a rust resistant metal, such as aluminum, and is formed of width equal to the width of the bar member 22. The bar joining leg 42 is fabricated to conform to the external configuration of the grill bar 22 so as to be substantially hidden from appearance When the grill assembly 20 is positioned upon the frame A. The clip connecting leg 44 extends at right angles from the leg 42 in a plane coextensive with a plane along the lowermost portion of the grill bar construction so as to lie flat against the glass 14 when the grill bar 22 is placed against the glass. In this manner, the clip leg 44 can be urged between the glass 14 and the vinyl strip 18 when a soft vinyl retaining strip is utilzed (see FIG. 6) and between the glass 14 and the vinyl strip 16 when a hard vinyl retaining strip is employed (see FIG. 7). It is thus seen that the L-clip Connector 38 can be universally employed to removably aflix grill bar assemblies to all varieties of metal sash wherein hard or soft plastic glass rettaining strips are utilized.

In FIG. 8, I show a modified type of L-clip 46 having one leg 48 aflixed to the end of the grill bar 22 by a pin 50 in the usual manner. The clip extension leg 52 bends at right angles to the leg 48 and terminates outwardly in bifurcated spring ends 54, 56 which bend back upon themselves to provide the required spring bias for bar assembly retaining purposes. As seen in FIG. 9, this type of clip Conveniently may be employed with a notched soft vinyl strip 18, similar to that set forth in FIG. 4. The spring ends 54, 56 insert into the space 36 between the glass 14 and the frame member 10 and retain the bar assembly 20 in position by biasing between the glass and the frame.

A modified type of spring clip 58 is set forth at FIG. 10 wherein one leg is afi'ixed to the end of a grill b`ar 22 by a pin 62 in the usual manner, The second leg 64 extends at right angles to the leg 60 and terminates in bifurcated ends 66, 68 which bend back upon the leg 64 and respectively reverse bend to provide a pair of spring ends 70, 72 lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from a plane through the clip leg 64. As shown in FIG. 11, this spring clip 58 may be employed with a notched, Soft vinyl strip 18, similar to that set forth in FIGS. 4 and 9. The spring ends 66, 68 insert into the space 36 between the glass 14 and the fra-me member 10 and retain the grill 20 in position by biasing between the glass and the frame 10.

A modified type of spring clip 74 is set forth in FIGS. 12, 16. The clip 74 pmprises a sing e length of wire bent into a t ght 1099 78 te r iv a pin 76 for se urin to a grill bar 22 in the usual manner. The lateral members 80, 82 extend substantially diametrically oppositely from the loop 78 and respectively terminate outwardly in right angle engaging prongs 84, 86. As best seen in FIG. 16 the lateral extensions 80, 82 bend toward the edge 88 of the bar that will be in contact with the glass 14. In this manner the prongs 84, 86 will lie su-bstantially flat against the glass and can thus be inserted between a soft vinyl strip 18 and the glass in the manner set forth in FIG. 6, and also between a hard vinyl strip 16 and the glass 14 in the manner set forth in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 15, I show a modified L-clip 90 that may be furnished separate from the grill bar 22. In this manner, the bar 22 may be cut to any desired size on the job-site and then the clip 90 can be attached simply by driving the pin 92 through the clip connection opening 94 into the axial bore 96 which is provided in the bar 22. Once the L-shaped clip 90 is firmly Secured in place, the grill assembly can then be applied to the frame 10 in the manner set forth in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 17, I show a novel type of grill Connector that -finds utility in extremely low cost installations. A sturdy steel pin 96 inserts into the axial bore 93 of a polyvinyl chloride plastic muntin bar 98 in a tight press fit, leaving exposed the sharp pointed end 100. Such a Connector may be utilized either with metal frame windows employing a hard vinyl retaining strip 16 or with wooden sash (not shown). When making the installation, the ponted end 100 is positioned against the vinyl strip 16 or against the wooden frame as the case may be and then axial pressure is applied to force the pin 96 into the softer vinyl or Wood, thereby punching a hole 91. When the grill bar 98 is removed, the hole 91 remains to perrnit ready reinstallation.

In FIG. 18, I show the plastic grill comprised of a plurality of flat interconnected plastic grill bars applied to an insulated glass window Construction. The glass panels 106, 108, are maintained in spaced, insulating arrangement by peripheral metallic strips 110, 112, suitably joined by corner connectors 114 in the usual manner to provide a sturdy, spaced Construction as required to achieve the insulating qualities desired. A continuous clip 118 of plastic, metal or other suitable material overlies the edges of the glass panels 106, 108 in conventional manner to form a stable, structurally secure, functional, insulated window assembly of the Component parts.

The muntin bars 102, 104 are milled to a flat configuration as indicated to Conveniently `fit within the space provided between the glass panels 106, 108 and are retained within this space for decorative purposes. Each bar 102, 104 is provided at the end 120 thereof with a metallic or plastic pin 122 which extends outwardly from the end of the bar for grlle connecting purposes. The pin 122 axially inserts into the bars 102, 104 and preferably terminates outwardly in a pointed end 126 for ease in installation. Each metallic strip 110, 112 is drilled, punched or otherwise treated to provide receiving openings 124 suita-bly spaced about the periphery thereof to receive the pins 122. In this manner, the grill bars 102, 104 may be readily applied and removably afiixed to the metallic strip spaces 110, 112 at the time the insulated glass window Construction is being assembled.

In order to use my invention, the connection ends as set forth in either FIG. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, or 15 should be applied to the frame 10 between the vinyl strip and the glass 14 using a suitable method as shown in either of FIGS. 4, 6, or 7. The polyvinyl fiuoride plastic bars 22, 24 should then be fiexed outwardly away from the glass until the remaining connection ends can be attached to the frame in a similar manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window grill Connector aflixed to the free end of a decorative window grill bar having one side in con tat with a, pane of glass retaired within a peripheral 5 frame utilizing a peripheral scaling strip, the combination of (A) wire connection means and a pin axially insertable into each said free end to aflix the wire connection means to the said free end,

(1) said wire connection means comprising a ength of wire centrally bent to form a tight (a) the said pin inserting within the said loop,

(2) lateral extensions extending outwardly from each side of the said ioop,

(a) said extensions terminating outwardiy in a pair of spaced insertion prongs bent at ninety degrees from the said lateral extensions,

(b) the said lateral extensions being sloped downwardly from the said central loop, a distance suicient to position the said insertion prongs in 'a plane drawn through the said grill bar glass contacting side and parallel with the said pane of giass.

2. In a decorative window sash assembly, including a frame having a peripheral U-shaped slot having spaced faces and a pane of glass having two surfaces and being retained within the slot, the combination of (A) a resilient U-shaped scaling strip peripherally enclosing the edges of the said pane of glass,

(1) said U-shaped strip retaining the said glass within the said slot,

(2) said strip having a first peripherai leg interposed between one surface of the said glass and one face of the said slot and having a second peripheral leg interposed between the second surface of the pane of glass and the second' face of the said sash,

(a) the said first peripheral leg being notched to provide a plurality of spaced openings about a periphery of the glass between the said first surface of the glass and the first face of the slot;

(B) a plurality of interconnecting decorative grill bars positioned upon the said glass,

(1)each said bar having one surface in contact with the said glass, and (2) each said bar having a free end adaptable for connection to the said slot; and (C) frame connecting means afixed to each said free end,

(1) the said connecting means including a securing member extending beyond the free end of each grill bar,

(a) each said securing member being of fiattened construction of configuration to insert within the said spaced openings to thereby retain the said grill bars in position over the glass.

References Cted UNITED STATES PATENTS ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner U.S. CI. X.R. 

